That’s because third-line center Michal Handzus did not make the trip for the game against his former team. He’s sick and McLellan wanted to keep him away from the other players.

“He just wasn’t feeling good enough after practice yesterday and we didn’t need to bring the germ on the plane with us,” McLellan said.

So, changes are coming.

“We’ve got to find a center to put in that ‘3’ spot,” McLellan said. “We have a lot of different options. We’ll start the night in a certain way, but whether we finish that way, I don’t know. We can dress seven ‘D’ as well.”

For the record, here’s the way the lines and pairs looked at the morning skate.

Couture-Thornton-Pavelski

Clowe-Marleau-Havlat

A. Murray-Mitchell-McGinn

Winchester-Desjardins-McLaren

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D. Murray-Boyle

Vlasic-Burns

Demers-Braun-Vandermeer

Notice that’s no defenseman Colin White there, either. He’s away from the team at a family funeral.

One question McLellan will have to answer is if Frazer McLaren is ready to play. McLaren, who had off-season hip surgery, was just recalled from a conditioning assignment in Worcester.

“The concern about putting Frazer in the lineup is we’re 20 games in now,” McLellan said. “It’s not exhibition season. It’s not even the first phase of games where the younger players sometimes shine before the game catches up to them. But he played five games in his conditioning assignment. So if we do put him in, he knows what he’s supposed to do. Everybody has to play their first game of the regular season. This could be his or it could be down the road.”

* The Sharks once again are proving to be a strong road team. They’re 7-2 on the young season away from HP Pavilion. But the Sharks have a hard time explaining their success on the road.

“I’m trying to think of reasons, but it’s really tough to explain,” Logan Couture said. “The other team should have the advantage. I can’t tell you why we do so well.”

Added Patrick Marleau: “It’s hard to put your finger on one thing. But everyone says that you simplify your game on the road. That’s part of it. You just try to play a simple game and try not to do too much. You don’t think you play any different home or away. But we have had a little more success on the road so far.”

* Last week, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said that there was more early-season trade conversation than in recent years among teams. He said it might be because so many teams with high aspirations were struggling.

“We’re all hockey fans and I keep an eye on the league,” Ryane Clowe said. “It’s just a tough situation. Even though it’s not your coach, you don’t like to see anybody get fired. But every year it happens. Every year someone’s struggling.”

McLellan conceded that most coaches will tell you that they have plenty to worry about keeping their own jobs. But he clearly was not happy to see two of the coaching fraternity go down.

“Somebody coined it Black Monday for the coaches,” he said. “Coaches even say that we’re hired to be fired. But that’s not the case. Players aren’t signed to be released. Coaches shouldn’t be hired to be fired. When it does happen, there’s many things wrong in an organization, not just the coach. But the coaches took the hit in these cases.”

* Finally, most of the hockey headlines in Southern California these days involve the region’s other team. Anaheim is in a complete free-fall, having won just twice in its last 18 games.

“A lot of talking. A lot of meetings. Really no answers,” Teemu Selanne told The Orange County Register after Sunday’s loss to Toronto. “It seems to me that nothing works. When things go bad, they really go bad. We try to stay positive and try to find some bright sides. I don’t really see any bright sides. It’s just unbelievable.”

There are no easy fixes, either, for the Ducks (6-13-4). Coach Randy Carlyle signed a contract extension in August. The names of captain Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan have been tossed out as possible trade pieces. But the Ducks have to be leery of making a panic move that hurts them more than it helps.

For his part, Sharks captain Joe Thornton said it would be a mistake to write off the Ducks this early in the season.

“They could go out and win 10 in a row,” he said. “They might be having a tough two weeks to set up a great month. You never know how hockey goes.”

Wellwood is a bargain in the salary cap world. He saved our season last year. At the very least he could play with Pavelski and Mitchell.

I am so tired of our players shooting right at the logo on the opposing goalie’s jersey. Clowe has gone 10 games without a goal. Martin Havlat has 1 goal in 17 games and it was on the powerplay. Dan Boyle plays like crap.

Everyone is so happy with our regular season success, this current team is not going to beat the Kings or Canucks in the playoffs.

You derp. I live in NorCal. You and DP should manufacture more fiction.
Hur hur derp, go write more dumb poetry. LOL 😆

Martin Brody

Stevo,

Bieksa said after the fight in game 2 of WCF last year. “Fighting Marleau is like punching a pillow, he is “Charmin” soft.

Woolly Mammoth Guy

Really/ Marshmellow- PR departments don’t need to worry about blogs, they worry about the passionate fans who in turn do the posting for them.

Stevo- I’m lucky that I’ll actually make it out to the tank 2-4 times this season. However, I’ve been so used to watching in HD with inexpensive beer that I get lost following the game up in the rafters without Drew and and a rewind button. Hopefully I get back into it with a few games this season

This is the first year in a while that we have cap room, and rumor has it it’s one of the more active seasons in recent memory for trade discussions. Both are to our advantage.

I really don’t care how the team makes the playoffs this year so long as they do. It really doesn’t matter until then.

ZEKE

Last nights game had a lot of the grit of a playoff game. Tons of rugged puck battles, lots of grinding. I like how Drew pointed out that Kings don’t let a player take the puck behind his own net to set-up unchallenged — they follow the guy all the way back, Nothing is going to come easy.

The Kings brought it from the start, the Sharks found it along the way. That is the sort of game the Sharks will need to find ways to win.

The team has done well so far, but being able to win against a tough team, playing hard and with a goalie playing well, that’s the measuring stick. We’re close, but not there.

ZEKE

As for Wellwood … I didn’t get our reluctance to let him walk.

It seemed like DW wanted to completely overhaul lines 3/4. Mayer, Nichol and Wellwood were not part of our problem last season. All brought something useful and that is about what you can expect for guys making $600K.

Blue line depth, inconsistant goalie play and taking penalties to put us into 5 on 3 situations were the things that kept us from getting to the Cup finals

Reality is, we’d found the formula to beat Vancouver — we just found it too late and by then, all it took was 1 missed icing call and 1 ridiculously unlucky bounce to end it.

Martin Brody

The more things change the more they stay the same. We still can’t kill penalties, our goalie is still inconsistent, our blue line depth is a bit better but still not great. Our forwards still make opposing goalies look good. I agree that we are close but not there.

SS

Isn’t Marleau hurt? I didn’t seem him on the ice last night

and what the hell is this well deserved rest garbage for DP?? The guy gets to travel around with an NHL team and write stories about the greatest sport around? Sounds like a dream job to me. Besides, the season isn’t even 2 months old yet. DP gets to rest for 3 months in the offseason. I wish my job which requires 12 months and 60 hours a week would let me take a couple months off a year for rest. Back to work DP! – do a story about how PM is going to lead us to a cup in his 14th year.

Stevo

Woolly,

I’m jealous of anyone that gets to go to the Tank and watch the Sharks. I hope you get to see us beat Brody Martin’s team on one of your trips.

CandG

Wellwood is too soft for playoff hockey. Good fit for the Sharks – good in regular season only.

Shark Fin

Sharks by the numbers (after 21 games or approximately 25% of the season)

*Opponents combined record = 191-134-40 (.578 pt%)
*3-4 in the Pacific Division. Shutout 3 times by division opponents
*Win % when scoring first= 1,000%. Have not lost when scoring first
*Win % when leading after 2 (.833, 20th in NHL)

Goals Per Game: 2.9 (9th in NHL)
Goals Against: 2.3 (6th overall)

*The Sharks have not lost a regulation game when they’ve scored more than two goals

what is the percentage of faceoffs won by PM when there is 3:12 left in the 3rd period against a Pacific Division opponents 3rd line center playing on the teams second line shorthanded with the 4th line winger in the box for tripping?

The score of the game is say.. 3-2 for the Sharks with Neimi in net and the visiting teams backup goaltender on the other end.

thanks

Stevo

What is the Shark’s win% when Marleau hangs a hattie?

Stevo

What is the Shark’s win% when Marleau is in the lineup?

What is the Shark’s win% with Todd McLellan vs Ron Wilson?

Stevo

MLBSF,

Are you a Marleau fan? Give me your take on him if you don’t mind.

SS

Stevo-

give it a rest with the “hatty” crap- he has about 4 in his entire career since 98.

a trick which includes an empty net goal would be like a BB player getting credit for the cycle in baseball but getting a free pass to first instead of a hit.

kind of a joke- like “pattys” lack of leadership since he has been on this team.

moreSNOWshowers

kind of a joke- like “pattys” lack of leadership since he has been on this team.

ZING!

Buddy Elf

These little kids who say regular season doesn’t matter, especially regular season success, yet when they lose a game or two in the regular season, these same retards come out in full force to blast the Sharks and fire everyone.

If regular season doesn’t matter, why are your panties in a bunch when we lose? BECAUSE REGULAR SEASON MATTERS! Win or lose.

——-

LOL@ Martin’s Mom… she’s as retarded as him, and sent the letter to the editor to a newspaper in another country.

Stevo

Buddy Elf,

Holy Cow, that was an NHL-caliber blast.

He shoots, he scores!

Stevo

SS,

I will when you give your hockey ignorance a rest. Along with your Marleau ignorance.

Deal?

Stevo

Marleau’s lack of leadership is a joke. True!

His leadership is not. However.

Stevo

SS,

How ’bout some Nemo stuff… just for a change of pace? You gotta hate him too. He gives up GWG’s.

Red Light Nemo. Nemo Looks Back.. I know you got a million of ’em.

Stevo

The Sharks will make the playoffs. Slim chance they don’t. Relax. Try not to harm yourselves as the Sharks hit a rough patch or 5. Hockey Happens.

It’s only November… lots of hockey yet to play.

matt

First of all, I am a big Sharks fan. i think they are off to a good start, not great start just good. I read some blogs above about how the Sharks need more grit. I agree. I like the old school hockey, hit em first ask questions later. seems like the Kings were getting away with it. But the Sharks are not that type of team. If u look at the Sharks coach and where he came from. Red Wings are not that type of team and it worked for a long time. But I hate seeing some Kings players and Stars players get away with crap. But it is what it is. as for the whole Heater and Havy thing. Put Hav’s up front with Joe. Then see what could happen.

Elf- I think I started the regular season doesn’t matter conversation today. My bad. I’ve never jumped on the fire anyone wagon or we need this guy back wagon. My point was that we have time and resources to work with to find our groove and fill needs.

My only contradiction to that is that I would love (knowing that it could never happen) to have JR back on the team. I LOVED what he brought to the team.

Stevo- Looks like BOS, ANA, and VAN games at the tank. Nice one about Patty’s leadership.

Teams that spend too much time on the PK tend to lose more games than they should.

Now a more physical D is something I would vote for. Hammering forwards into coughing up the puck on the forecheck I would vote for. Keeping opposing D from making easy breakouts I would vote for.

Woolly Mammoth Guy

Havlat may not be my favorite new Shark, but I’d take him and his $5 mil over Heatley and his $7 any day, any game. And I’m not the only one who agrees: http://es.pn/tY27HW.

He also agrees no need to worry about the Sharks with two losses in a row.

ZEKE

One thing I don’t get — and never will apparently — is the reluctance of a coach trying to win the game by taking a chance.

We’re down 2-0, under 10 minutes left and Doughty goes to the box. Pull the goalie and skate 6 on 4!! If we don’t score on that PP, its hard to imagine that we’d win. The likelihood of getting a goal 6 on 4 is a lot better than 5 on 4. And it increases the chance of drawing another penalty.

Worst case, you lose by 3-0 instead of 2-0. Best case, you win a game where you were down 2 with under 10 minutes left.

Its a risk worth taking.

Z-Man

To me, all I ask of a team is that they are consistently in the hunt. Perennial contenders.

Anything else is unrealistic.

icehawkey

The Caps hired ex-Cap Captain Dale Hunter who is second in NHL history in PIMs (to Tiger Williams) who was a hard as nails nasty, sometimes wildy dirty player. He wont ciddle stars like Bruce did or TMac does. Hes never coached an adult but McPhee knows he wont be able to keep all this talent together long an unlike most SJ fans and maybe even DW, he isnt happy with winning one or two playoff rounds and being “elite” in reg season but cupless. Thats a GM doing ALL he can to win.

icehawkey

The Caps hired ex-Cap Captain Dale Hunter who is second in NHL history in PIMs (to Tiger Williams) who was a hard as nails nasty, sometimes wildy dirty player. He wont ciddle stars like Bruce did or TMac does. Hes never coached an adult but McPhee knows he wont be able to keep all this talent together long an unlike most SJ fans and maybe even DW, he isnt happy with winning one or two playoff rounds and being “elite” in reg season but cupless. Thats a GM doing ALL he can to win. I know the Sharks will win 45-50 games and a round or 2 maybe in playoffs but can not win a cup with glaring weaknesses like no killer instinct, shitty PK & lack of finishing. IMHO These all stem from lack of Motivation and a system ti suit the talent. The Sharks could grab a gutsy former player a la Ricci to coach! I hope DW does something before Deadline, be it a trade a FA or a new coach but I fear he will let TMac have one last chance. I hope we arent lamenting DW not pulling a string come this May or June. Next yr we could have a major injury defections trades whatever. The time is now, lets not just hope The Sharks magically wake up on their own and get as hungry as Vancouver or Chicago come crunch time.

With all due respect…my reaction to this example is in my experience it’s NOT a good idea to question the direction given. Yes, ask a question if you don’t UNDERSTAND what’s being asked of you. Yes, ask a question if you need more information. But don’t question their direction; it’s always better to be flexible and let go of your idea of how it’s supposed to be played and just go with it. The director or casting person may have a multitude of reasons why they are asking you to do it completely differently, and opposite of how you thought it should be. If you ask a question which is obviously QUESTIONING THEIR DIRECTION, as opposed to trying to just better UNDERSTAND the new direction, it makes you seem like an obstinate actor who may not be so easy to work with. Personally I would never do that.